By SHANNON O. WELLS
A traveling exhibition conveying the story of the deadly shooting spree at the Tree of Life Congregation synagogue on display on the Oakland campus through April 25 is as much about the future as it is a reminder of the tragedy that shook Pittsburgh and the country on Oct. 27, 2018.
“At the core of everything we do at the Tree of Life is the memory of each of the 11 lives that were taken from us,” said Carole Zawatsky, Tree of Life’s chief executive officer. “We will never be defined by our worst day or those who hate us. We will show people that in the face of the greatest adversity, we will get up and we will re-create.”
The exhibition, “Lessons from The Tree of Life: Lighting the Path Forward,” features curated artifacts and personal testimonies related to the 2018 attack and its soul-searching aftermath. The one-man shooting spree left 11 dead and six wounded in what’s considered the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history.
Open to the public and the Pitt community on weekday afternoons since March 27 at the University Club library, the exhibit runs through April 25. “Lessons from The Tree of Life” showcases items related to the synagogue shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Squirrel Hill while highlighting the community’s collective response to the attack in vocal opposition to antisemitism, hate and violence.
“The exhibition tells the story of what happened on October 27, 2018, the community’s response, our rebuilding effort, and antisemitism in America,” Zawatsky said.
Presented in partnership with the Rauh Jewish History Program and Archives at the Heinz History Center with support from the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh and the Ford Foundation, the exhibit represents what Zawatsky called a collaborative “labor of love.”
“Bringing this exhibition to life has been a team effort — our team at the Tree of Life, our partners at the Rauh Jewish Archives and across the community, and the families and survivors who have bravely told their stories and shared their pain over the past six-and-a-half years,” she said. “Its creation was a labor of love, and it provides a sneak peek at the future 10/27 Museum and Education Center that will be housed at the rebuilt Tree of Life site.”
Demolition work on the Tree of Life synagogue at 5898 Wilkins Ave. got underway in early 2024 to make way for a reimagined building to honor those killed and injured there in 2018.
“We are creating a new, locally grounded institution with broad national impact and reach,” Zawatsky said. “The reimagined Tree of Life is a place that will celebrate Jewish life and tradition and remember each victim and the horror that happened here on this sacred ground.
“It is a place that educates people of all ages and backgrounds, builds connection, and inspires courageous action to create compassionate communities,” she added. “Ours is a daunting journey as we gather the pieces of our broken world and rebuild it as we believe it can be. We invite you to join us in cultivating a community where remembrance and reflection meet resilience and resolve.”
Zawatsky expressed appreciation for the support the exhibit has received from the University committee.
“We are incredibly grateful for the support of our Pittsburgh community, especially the students, faculty and staff here at the University of Pittsburgh who have joined us at the exhibition,” she said. “The embrace we have felt from this community has been wonderful.”
After Pittsburgh, the exhibition will travel to Cleveland, New York and Miami. For more information, visit TheTreeofLife.org.
Shannon O. Wells is a writer for the University Times. Reach him at shannonw@pitt.edu.
Have a story idea or news to share? Share it with the University Times.